Calendar of events

Here you will find all of our congregation’s Sunday Services, Board and Committee meetings and other events. Use the calendar controls to see events for past or future dates. For a quick look at recent Sunday Services, click here!

Nov
27
Sun
Amanda Tarling “Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art.”
Nov 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Amanda Tarling “Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art.”

In February, Amanda was lucky enough to see the Royal Ontario Museum’s exhibition about tattoos, their history and global prevalence. Love them or loath them they are rich with symbolism and meaning. The cultural and spiritual history of tattoos around the world is a fascinating topic to explore, join us to find out more.

Dec
4
Sun
Lillie Lentz “Chalica: Celebrating Our Seven Principles”
Dec 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Lillie Lentz "Chalica: Celebrating Our Seven Principles"

It’s official! We have our words, our ways and our days. Do you have a favourite? Today we’ll explore these things.

 

Lillie Lentz has been a member of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria since 2002. Before that she belonged to the Unitarian Universalist (UU) communities in Ottawa and in Vancouver. She has been a UU practitioner for 24 years. Most recently she has had training in our Lay Chaplaincy program, was a Worship Associate and continues to support the Youth in every way possible. In her other work as a communication coach, she is always a pagan, a permaculturalist and a Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practitioner.

Dec
11
Sun
Brenda Wilson & Dr. Lilli Rosenberg “Citizens’ Counselling Centre: Ripples in the Community Pond”
Dec 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Brenda Wilson & Dr. Lilli Rosenberg “Citizens' Counselling Centre: Ripples in the Community Pond”

Ripples in the Community Pond” Learn about the origin of Citizens’ Counselling Centre, the work they do in the community, the volunteers they train and supervise and the clients who come to them for support.

Dec
18
Sun
Phoebe Ramsey “Shukran Habibti: Gifts from the Refugee Trail”
Dec 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Phoebe Ramsey “Shukran Habibti: Gifts from the Refugee Trail"

Phoebe Ramsay spent seven months volunteering in solidarity with refugees in Greece, and will return in January to continue her work. In this, the season of giving, Phoebe will be sharing with the congregation some of the gifts that she received while on the refugee trail, and the stories and journeys they hold. Reflecting on our 6th principle, responsibility to the larger community, she will also be sharing the story of her personal journey, and speaking about finding light and hope in the darkest of places.

Dec
25
Sun
Dr. Dana L. Seaborn “Songs and Stories of Solstice.”
Dec 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dr. Dana L. Seaborn “Songs and Stories of Solstice.”

Come join us to explore the various midwinter cultural traditions and sing and have fun!

Jan
1
Sun
Anna Isaacs “Fire Communion”
Jan 1 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Anna Isaacs "Fire Communion"

Gather for a simple ritual of new beginnings. Take this opportunity to reflect on what you would like to let go of and what you wish to welcome into your life.

 

Jan
8
Sun
Rabbi Harry Brechner “Holding Faith in Anxious Times”
Jan 8 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Rabbi Harry Brechner "Holding Faith in Anxious Times"

We welcome teaching from the Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El, the egalitarian Conservative Jewish congregation in Victoria.

Jan
15
Sun
Shannon Kirk “Virtues and Principles”
Jan 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Shannon Kirk "Virtues and Principles"

What does it mean to be virtuous, and how does this goal manifest in our Unitarian Universalist principles? Which of the classical virtues match the UU principles and sources and which virtues have we abandoned? Why? Come and share!

Jan
22
Sun
Nomi Kaston, M.Sc., Speech Language Pathologist “We CAN communicate! Teachings for all of us from the worlds of Autism and Neuro-Diversity”
Jan 22 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Nomi Kaston, M.Sc., Speech Language Pathologist "We CAN communicate! Teachings for all of us from the worlds of Autism and Neuro-Diversity"

For all of us, communication sometimes feels impossible. We can all learn from the innovative techniques that give a voice to people with Autism and other communication disorders. An uplifting and hopeful vision for a listening world.

Nomi Kaston, M.Sc., Speech Language Pathologist
Nomi earned her Master of Science degree at McGill University, in Speech Language Pathology. She has a private Speech Therapy practice in Victoria, specializing in creative exploration of AAC, Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems involving pictures, music, gesture, and computer generated speech. She has worked and presented internationally in the fields of social cognition and communication.

Jan
29
Sun
Paige Thombs “The Rise of Secularism in Canada and Its Impact on Freedom of Religion and the Duty to Accommodate”
Jan 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Paige Thombs "The Rise of Secularism in Canada and Its Impact on Freedom of Religion and the Duty to Accommodate"

Trinity Western University’s recent application for a law school has been met with incredible backlash, both from the general public and from the legal community, due to its mandatory “community covenant” and the perceived discrimination contained within it. How does Canada continue to protect the rights of all (particularly the rights of women and LGTB community members) while still protecting religious freedom?

Paige Thombs is an MA Candidate in History and Culture, Social and Political Thought at the University of Victoria. As a member of the LGTB Community, she is grateful to live in a country where she can live freely. She seeks to find balance between her rights and the rights of others.

Feb
5
Sun
Kristina Stevens “A vision from Sea to Sea”
Feb 5 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Kristina Stevens "A vision from Sea to Sea"

As Canadian Unitarian Universalists, we envision a world in which our interdependence calls us to love and justice.

Kristina Stevens has been a Unitarian for 25 years, drawn to a group of like-minded people who are not afraid to explore life’s big questions. She is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, and has been on the Canadian Unitarian Council Board for the past five years.

Feb
12
Sun
Alan Dawson “Kenneth Leo Patton”
Feb 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Alan Dawson “Kenneth Leo Patton”

Kenneth Leo Patton. Some of you probably come to the conclusion that I look a lot to the past, well, I like to look at our forebears in Unitarianism to see what they have to offer us today. Patton was very influential on Unitarianism during the last century. Here is a quote from Minister and scholar, David Bumbaugh as he summed up Patton’s work: “It was he who taught a monotone rationalism how to sing; it was he who taught a stumble footed humanism how to dance;it was he who cried ‘Look!’ and taught our eyes to see the glory in the ordinary.”